Self-contained pumpless cooling water system

ABSTRACT

A water storage tank maintained under constant air pressure is supplied with water from a filler tank which can be connected to a source of air pressure or to the atmosphere through a three-way valve. The valve is actuated in response to the level of water in the filler tank to transfer water to the storage tank when the filler tank is full and permits the replenishment of water in the filler tank when a low level is reached.

[ Feb. 22, 1972 United States Patent Genrich [54] SELF-CONTAINED PUMPLESS 3,090,325 5/1963 Ross..................................,...417/121 992,711 5/1911 Freeman................................4l7/121 COOLING WATER SYSTEM [72] lnventor: Kurt Genrlch, Oak Park, 111.

Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Attorney-Smythe & Moore [73] Assignee;

Sola Basic Industries, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis. v

22 Filed: May 27,1970

21 Appl.No.: 40,777

ABSTRACT A water storage tank maintained under constant air pressure is supplied with water from a filler tank which can be connected to a source of air pressure or to the atmosphere through a three-way valve. The valve is actuated in response to the level of water in the filler tank to transfer water to the storage tank when the filler tank is full and permits the replenishment of water in the filler tank when a low level is reached.

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 2,770,590 11/1956 Serduke........................... l37(209X SELF-CONTAINED PUMPLESS COOLING WATER SYSTEM In many industrial operations, it is desired to have a source of high-pressure cooling water flowing at a steady rate to the point of use. Low-pressure water supply means are subject to fluctuations in water pressure and also operate at a relatively low pressure. The use of such low-pressure water does not always permit sufficient flow of water to the'cooling circuits of an industrial operation, and accordingly, the water will heat up to a greater temperature than desired and may deposit excessive quantities of lime which foul the various cooling pipes and jackets. Such a supply of high-pressure water at a steady rate of flow should preferably be available without use of a high-volume booster pump. The use of such a pump is undesirable since it is primarily used for temporary demands of high volume of water under high pressure so that the pump runs inefficiently for a substantial portion of its operating time.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a self-contained pumpless cooling water supply system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cooling water supply system which will supply water at a high pressure at a flow rate several times greater than that obtainable from a water supply main.

in one aspect of the invention, a self-contained pumpless cooling water supply system may include a water storage tank maintained under a consuming system such as a quench means. A filler tank has an outlet connected to the storage tank and an inlet through which water is returned from the consuming system. A three-way valve connects a filler tank to a source of an air pressure and has a free vent which is connectable to the atmosphere. Switch means are provided which are responsive to the level of water in the filler tank for actuating the three-way valve. The valve is closed to the free vent and connected to the source of air pressure to transfer water to the storage tank when the level of water in the tiller tank rises to a predetermined level. When the water in the filler tank falls to a predetermined level, the valve is connected to the free vent, and the filler tank is replenished with water.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying description and drawings, which are merely exemplary, and which illustrate schematically the cooling water system according to the present invention.

In the drawings, the FIGURE, which is partially in section, shows one form of the invention.

Proceeding next to the drawings, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

A filler tank is provided with an inlet 11 having a check valve 12 for warm water return from the consuming system. The filler tank is also provided with an outlet or supply line 13 also having a check valve 14 which is closed when water is being supplied to the filter tank. Level responsive switches 15 and 16 are also mounted on the filler tank 10 and are responsive to rising and falling levels of water therein.

An air pressure supply line 17 is connected to the filler tank 10 and is provided with a three-way solenoid valve 18. The air supply line 17 is also provided with a check valve 19, which prevents any flow of water into the air line, and an adjustable air pressure regulator 20. The line 17 connects to a main air pressure line 21 leading from a source of compressed air (not shown).

By way of example, a source of compressed air may be at a pressure of I00 p.s.i.

The three-way valve 18 has a free vent 22 to which it may be connected when called for by the water level switches 15 and The supply line 13 leads to an inlet 23 of water storage tank 24. The water storage tank can be located at any elevation between floor level and approximately 30 feet above this level at the site of location and may be positioned so as to be exposed to winds or atmospheric drafts.

The water storage tank is provided with facilities for cooling the water therein, and these facilities comprise a center draft tube 25 havinga cooling air circulating fan 26 therein. The center. draft tube25 is provided with sufficient exposed surface to dissipate all of the heat that the water may pick up in a closed cooling circuit so that the storage tank is in itself a heat exchanger. Since ample transfer of pressure is provided between the filler tank and the storage tank, the storage tank can be mounted at virtually any level above the ground or floor level.

The water storage tank 24 receives air under pressure through air line 21. An air relief valve 27 relieves excessive air pressure during the transfer process. The water storage tank 24 is also provided with a water level responsive switch 28, a vacuum break valve 29 to permit draining of the storage tank, and a water level gauge 30 which indicates the level in the tank.

Water supply line 31 supplies a constant flow of water, for example, at a pressure of approximately 40 p.s.i., to a cooling water consuming system 35 with the water then returning through line 1 1 to the filler tank 10.

The air pressure line 21 is also provided with a check valve 32 which prevents water from entering into the air line and an air pressure regulator 33 which is adjusted to the water outlet pressure at line 31.

In the operation of the cooling water system according to the present invention, the three-way valve 18 is open to the free vent 22 and to the filler tank 10 so that water at low and varying pressures will enter tank 10 through the inlet 11 until the upper level switch 15 closes to actuate the three-way valve 18. The valve 18 will then be closed to the free vent 22 but will be open to the line 17 and to the source of compressed air. An air pressure of about p.s.i. will be introduced to the filler tank 10 through line 17 and will transfer the water in the filler tank to the storage tank 24 through the line 13. The storage tank 24 is maintained under a constant air pressure of 40 p.s.i. Some of the air in the storage tank 24 is discharged through the relief valve 27 to provide space within the storage tank for the water being transferred from filler tank 10.

When the tiller tank is emptied, lower level switch 16 will be closed and will actuate three-way valve 18 back into a position wherein the tiller tank 10 is connected to the free vent 22. This will enable the water again to enter the filler tank through inlet 1 1.

While the system is cycling in the manner as described above, the discharge pressure on the water storage tank 24 will supply a constant flow of water through line 31 under a constant pressure regardless of the pressure in the water supply lines. Further, water stored in the storage tank 24 can be supplied at a large volume flow at high pressure for temporary high demands of flow under pressure which can be several times the volume flow of the water supply main as may occur in fast quenching operations, fast cooling periods or emergency cooling operations. However, no oversized pressure booster pump needs to be installed for this temporary demand.

Limit switch 28 on storage tank 24 will stop any further transfer of water from the filler tank into the storage tank when the storage tank becomes filled at a time when not enough water is' being removed from the storage tank.

The pumpless cooling water system according to the present invention utilizes no moving parts and, hence, requires a minimum of maintenance. Only a small amount of compressed air is necessary to operate this cooling system fully automatically. Further, sufficient water is stored in a closed circuit so that the system is independent of outside water flow. The stored water may be cooled without an additional heat exchanger and make up water can be added through the double tandem three-way valves 34 where the excess warm water can be dumped out at the same time to increase the cooling capacity if desired. Ever increasing demands for cooling water can be readily handled in relatively small water pipes merely upon an increase in water pressure. It is therefore not necessary to increase the entire water distribution system or to install additional piping.

It will be understood that various details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:v

1 A self-contained pumpless cooling water supply system comprising a water storage tank maintained under a constant air pressure having means for cooling water therein and having an outlet to supply water to a consuming system, a filler tank having an inlet from the consuming system and an outlet connected to said storage tank, a three-way valve connecting said filler tank to a source of air pressure and having a free vent for connecting said filler tank to the atmosphere, and switch means responsive to the level of water in said filler tank for actuating said three-way valve so that when the water level in the filler tank rises to'a predetermined level the valve is closed to the free vent and connected to the source of air pressure of the transfer water to the storage tank, the valve being opened to the free vent when the water level in a filler tank drops below a certain level to permit the supply of water to fill the tank, said tanks being connected to the same source of air pressure with said filler tank subject to variable high transfer air pressure and said storage tank being maintained under a lower constant pressure.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- 3,6 6 678 Dated February 22 1972 Inven )Ku1"t Genric h It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column 1, line 28, "a, constant air pressure and having an outlet supply line toshould be inserted after under Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GuTTs'cHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60375-F'69 U 5, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 O-366-334 FORM PO-105O (10-69) 

1. A self-contained pumpless cooling water supply system comprising a water storage tank maintained under a constant air pressure having means for cooling water therein and having an outlet to supply water to a consuming system, a filler tank having an inlet from the consuming system and an outlet connected to said storage tank, a three-way valve connecting said filler tank to a source of air pressure and having a free vent for connecting said filler tank to the atmosphere, and switch means responsive to the level of water in said filler tank for actuating said three-way valve so that when the water level in the filler tank rises to a predetermined level the valve is closed to the free vent and connected to the source of air pressure of the transfer water to the storage tank, the valve being opened to the free vent when the water level in a filler tank drops below a certain level to permit the supply of water to fill the tank, said tanks being connected to the same source of air pressure with said filler tank subject to variable high transfer air pressure and said storage tank being maintained under a lower constant pressure. 